The launch of micro-investing app CommSec Pocket will democratise the art of investing in Australia by giving younger and less wealthy Australians the opportunity to engage with the markets, according to one CEO.
BetaShares CEO Alex Vynokur explained to nestegg how savvy young Australians may be able to get ahead, thanks to CommSec’s latest innovation.
“The introduction of CommSec Pocket is a very significant step forward in democratising investment for young Australians,” he stated, with the app also having the potential to remove some of the stigma surrounding investing activity.
Calling “one of the greatest barriers” that individuals have encountered with regards to investment being that it is an activity “only for the wealthy”, Mr Vynokur said this should not be the case.
“Each of us, as working Australians, have a superannuation account by default,” he went on, clarifying that “we are investors – we are just not all close to our investments”.
Traditional wealth building is unattainable
The housing boom has meant that many younger investors have had to move away from the traditional property-led accumulation of wealth strategy, according to the CEO.
He said the price of property, compounded with issues surrounding record-low interest rates, means younger investors will be looking to target the share market to build wealth.
“Building an investment portfolio and using ETFs as low-cost building blocks is a really great way to invest, especially for investors who are looking to accumulate long-term wealth,” the CEO outlined.
By allowing the “magic” of time in the market, Mr Vynokur said he believes investors have an opportunity to build wealth through non-traditional avenues.
“Being an investor and allowing the magic of compounding to work in your favour is a terrific thing to get on board with,” he reiterated.
CommSec allows for small-scale diversification
Mr Vynokur noted that previously, it was very difficult for investors to put smaller amounts into the market and still have the benefits of diversification.
“If you have, say, $100, you can actually buy in one trade the NASDAQ 100 ETF, which gives you access to 100 underlying stocks,” he said.
The CEO explained that the innovation “opens up investment to people with low balances, by democratisation of investing”.
“It allows the person with $100 the opportunity to invest as efficiently as someone with a higher balance,” he continued.
ESG to become mainstream
With CommSec Pocket allowing investors to choose a more sustainable ETF, Mr Vynokur said he thinks investors can gain strong returns through use of such a platform.
“The conventional wisdom a decade ago was investing ethically was investing badly,” the CEO said, with people previously of the view that you might be leaving returns if you invest ethically.
Calling it “definitely not the case”, Mr Vynokur considered environment, social and governance-geared (ESG) funds as continuing to show strong returns in the market, with the outcome that more mainstream funds will consider ESG factors when investing.
“ESG and sustainable investing will move further into the mainstream as the sceptics of a decade ago are being confronted with facts, and the facts are not corroborating the story that ethical investing is bad investing,” according to the CEO.
“If you look at some of the smartest money around the world, a number of global funds are starting to incorporate ESG into their day-to-day investment process,” Mr Vynokur continued.
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